The Dean's office was far from noisy. Quiet. Almost too quiet.
And there he was, sitting behind his desk, the soft glow of his computer screen casting a shadow over his features. His sharp chin rested on his fingers, which were pressed together.
His dark eyes fixated on Harper, who stood in front of him, her head bowed and her hands behind her.
Clearing his throat, he relaxed on the chair, causing the then palpable tension to flee.
"How are you doing, sweetie?" he asked softly, a faint smile on his lips.
"I'm fine, Daddy," Harper replied politely as the tension stirring within her eased. "You called for me, Dad."
Gesturing to the chair before him, the dean spoke, "Have a seat, honey."
Nodding, Harper took a seat before him.
She knew what he was about to talk about. He was definitely about to talk about the viral scandal that ruined her reputation overnight—
That scandal which wasn't entirely true... which made people call her all sorts of names her father wouldn't want her being called.
Although step one for regaining her reputation was accomplished, she still felt her untrue affair with an alive Trouble was out of the question on the side of her father.
Logan Hayes.
The guy her father himself warned her against.
Inhaling and exhaling, Harper embraced the upcoming trouble.
"Are you sure you are okay? This doesn't look too good on your side, honey. Are you feeling good?"
Concern was written on his face. Although he already had wrinkles on his forehead, the wrinkles seemed deepened as he stared at her.
Harper Reed was the exact replica of her father, the Dean, Alvin Reed.
Alvin also had dark hair just like she did. The only difference was that he had strands of grey in it.
"I'm fine, Daddy. Really," she said. The reassuring smile she wore made him believe she really was, and he reciprocated the smile.
"Okay, if you say so," he said. With his smiley face suddenly switching to that of a serious one, he asked, "What really happened?"
Swallowing, Harper spoke, "I—I... it's not me... I—I..." Harper was speechless.
She didn't want her dad to know she went to the party, let alone that she got drunk!
That wasn't how he brought her up.
Frankly speaking, Alvin was the one that made Harper's life this boring—no parties, no fun!
Those were his advices.
All that was boring in his opinion.
And how could she tell someone as decent as her father that she got herself drunk and ended up in Logan Hayes' room?
"You what?" Alvin, the dean, asked. "Every situation you find yourself in, as I always say, you should be able to account for it," he added, his dark eyes not flickering, just fixed on Harper.
"I—I..."
"Harper, you should be able to fix things. What do I always tell you about reputation?" he asked her.
Harper averted her gaze.
"I should keep it and make sure I never lose it," Harper whispered, her voice barely audible.
Like she was too embarrassed to speak.
Maybe she was.
"And why is that?" he asked, staring at her with scrutiny.
"Because... it is what defines me..." Harper trailed off.
Nervousness was eating her up.
"Yes. So are you going to fix it? Restore your perfect reputation?" Alvin asked. His tone was sharper, making it sound like a statement rather than a question.
"Yes, please. I'm going to fix things," Harper spoke, mustering a little courage.
"Good."
Harper nodded. "I'm leaving."
"Sure."
Harper gulped hard as she headed out. Just when she held the doorknob, she heard her father call her. Harper turned.
"Don't disappoint me."
For an unknown reason, she felt her heart racing.
It was fear.
Definitely.
****
Logan Hayes sat in his bed, a frown crossing his sharp features. He was deep in thought.
Thousands of questions ran through his mind.
His thoughts were a jumbled mess.
How could anyone else see him in the process of exchanging the payment with the man last Tuesday?
He couldn't believe he had just let someone like Harper—a nobody—blackmail him into fake dating him.
Of course, he wasn't ready to fake-date someone like Harper Reed, the dean's perfect daughter, but he had to because the moment she spilled the vivid details of whatever she saw, he was going to be in big trouble.
The whole campus adored him, not knowing who he truly was.
What he did in the shadows.
Was he really that carefree guy they saw him to be?
But who could blame him?
He did it for survival.
For protection.
He had to do it if he wanted to continue living this carefree life with people cheering him on.
And to do that, he needed to do whatever he could to make Harper shut up.
His conclusion made him scoff.
He had to make them believe he was in a relationship with the Dean's daughter.
Just then, his phone buzzed.
Lazily, Logan Hayes picked it up from the table.
No name.
Unknown number.
Message: Rapture needs you.
His breath hitched.